What is the difference between "quiet" and "quite"?

1. 93

   Vellurposted 10 years ago

   What is the difference between "quiet" and "quite"?

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2. 83

   Hackslapposted 10 years ago

   The first means 'lack of noise' ...'quiet please'...'be quiet'.... the 2nd means 'to acutely signify something' ...for example..'quite mad'..or 'he's quite brilliant'.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, exactly.

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      Vellurposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, crystal clear.

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   Jackie Lynnleyposted 10 years ago

   The first mean "no noise or remain still" and the second means "very much".

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      Vellurposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for answering.

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   Harishprasadposted 10 years ago

   At first, I was tempted to consult dictionary but then a thought arose me why you didn't do so and instead put up this question. So, without peeping into dic., my answer- "quiet "means silent, peaceful, without making a noise and" quite " means almost, nearly, appropriately, clearly. Nithya, I am as amazed by your question as I am answering it. Very curious and simplicity of it is a wonder !

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      Vellurposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I knew it but still wondered about it, a bit confused. I sometimes get confused about the things I know well and wonder how others will answer it. This way I learn even more about it.

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5. 86

   tsmogposted 10 years ago

   The difference between quiet and quite. Quiet is from the 13th century with meaning clear or free of disturbance. Quite (root word quit) is from 14th century with meaning free or clear. The combined form quite quiet would mean freely of clearly free of disturbance. Quiet quite would mean free or clear of disturbance clearly or freely. The difference may be in those cases one is a what (observed) and the other a how of occurrence (observed).
   
   a + b where, "and = (+)", with its reciprocal in notation being b + a

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      Vellurposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      tsmog thank you for answering in detail highlighting the difference.

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   alancaster149posted 10 years ago

   You could say it's 'quite quiet' (a kind of hush - we know a song about that, don't we).
   Quite is a word Victorians preferred to 'very' (only the common herd used 'very', too working class - only suitable for the 'hoy-polloy, i.e 'thee and me').
   Quiet is what it definitely ain't at MacDonald's on a Saturday/Sunday afternoon (try dropping in on a weekday morning, or afternoon before the schools finish, you'd think you were on a different planet)!
   [*This is what is known as the non-academic approach, but it works].

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      Vellurposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for answering and the extra information that you have shared, much appreciated.

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   Edwin Brownposted 10 years ago

   I think Hackslap has nailed it.  But another tip off is in the pronunciation.  Quiet is two syllables.  If you say be "quiet" you can hear the difference from "quite".  So say the word before you and you can hear the difference.
   
   No one says "quite down" when wanting to hush someone.

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      Vellurposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Edwin Brown yes Hackslap has nailed it! Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

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   annartposted 10 years ago

   'Quiet' means that something is without, or almost without, noise.
   
   'Quite' means absolutely, or it has come to mean 'fairly' as in 'almost'.  For example, 'it's quite good'  means it's not brilliant but it's not bad.
   Or if you say, 'Quite' after someone 's comment, it means 'exactly'.
   
   They are not at all similar in meaning, just close in spelling!

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      Vellurposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      annart thank you for answering with explanation.

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   Eazy_Eposted 10 years ago

   Quiet is an adjective, meaning a word that describes a noun, and means a soft sound. For example; The man was quiet, as he whispered in my ear. Quiet can also be used as an adverb, describing the nature of a verb or action, as long as it has the proper ending added on. For example; The man spoke quietly. Quiet can also be a noun meaning the nature of silence. Example: The explosion shattered the late night quiet. Again quiet, when ending in an ING or ED, can be used as a verb as well. For example, I quieted down the Four screaming children, or there are ways of quieting down a cars engine.
   
   Quite is an adverb meaning to a certain or utmost extent; completely or fairly. For example; Going outside is quite out of the question in this storm; or, It is quite beautiful outside during Spring.

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      Vellurposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Easy_E thank you for answering this question in detail with examples making it very clear.

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